U.S. patent number 4,382,220 [Application Number 06/284,989] was granted by the patent office on 1983-05-03 for rechargeable battery pack and combination thereof with lantern.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Bridgeport Metal Goods Mfg. Co.. Invention is credited to Francis G. Marshall, Ralph F. Moore.
United States Patent |
4,382,220 |
Marshall , et al. |
May 3, 1983 |
Rechargeable battery pack and combination thereof with lantern
Abstract
A rechargeable battery pack has a rectangular case formed in two
box halves secured together at a seam about the top, side and
bottom panels thereof, two rechargeable batteries positioned in the
case between the bottom and side panels and front and rear panels
and cross-ribs extending inwardly from the interior surfaces of the
front and rear panels, a transformer for charging the batteries
positioned between the front and rear panels by U-shaped flanges
extending inwardly from the interior surfaces thereof, two
terminals extending through openings in the top of the case formed
at the seam and spring biased outwardly by coil springs deployed
between the top panel and the heads of the terminals, two secondary
terminals mounted within the case and including flexible spring
blades self-biased into contact with the feet of the terminals
within the case, and wiring connecting the batteries with the
secondary terminals for current draw and with the transformer for
recharging including a line cord from the transformer through an
opening found at the case seam to a plug. When the batteries are of
the lead acid type, the flexible spring blades have a free position
leaving an air gap relative to the terminal feet, thereby
minimizing the possibility of shorting the batteries. The
rechargeable battery pack is used in combination with a lantern
which has a rib structure accommodating both a standard lantern
battery and the rechargeable battery pack, which has different
dimensions.
Inventors: |
Marshall; Francis G. (Meriden,
CT), Moore; Ralph F. (Greenwich, CT) |
Assignee: |
The Bridgeport Metal Goods Mfg.
Co. (Bridgeport, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
23092286 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/284,989 |
Filed: |
July 20, 1981 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
320/112;
362/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M
10/46 (20130101); H01M 50/20 (20210101); F21L
4/085 (20130101); H02J 7/0042 (20130101); Y02E
60/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21L
4/08 (20060101); F21L 4/00 (20060101); H01M
2/10 (20060101); H01M 10/42 (20060101); H01M
10/46 (20060101); H02J 7/00 (20060101); H02J
007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;320/2,3,4,5
;429/100 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shoop; William M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cifelli, Frederick & Tully
Claims
We claim:
1. A rechargeable battery pack comprising a case having two
terminals extending therethrough for exterior access and having
mounted therein at least one rechargeable battery, an AC-DC
transformer for charging the battery and wiring connecting the
battery to the two terminals extending through the case for drawing
current and connecting the battery to the DC side of the
transformer for charging, the wiring including a line cord
extending from the AC side of the transformer through the case and
terminating in a plug connector for insertion into a standard wall
outlet, wherein the two terminals extending through the case each
comprises an enlarged head positioned outside the case, a shaft
extending through an opening in the case and an enlarged foot
positioned inside the case and thereby securing the terminal to the
case, and a coil spring deployed between the outer surface of the
case and the head of the terminal, whereby the two terminals are
biased outwardly from the case and yield into spring biased contact
with contact strips, contact plates or the like of devices in which
the rechargeable battery pack is utilized.
2. A rechargeable battery pack as defined in claim 1 and further
comprising two secondary terminals mounted in the case and
connected by the wiring to the battery terminals, each secondary
terminal including a flexible spring blade extending to under the
foot of a corresponding one of the two terminals, the flexible
spring blade self-biasing against the foot of the corresponding
terminal to make electrical contact therewith.
3. A rechargeable battery pack as defined in claim 2 wherein the
case is rectangular and comprises front and rear panels, top and
bottom panels and side panels, the case being formed in two box
halves with the seam joining the box halves extending through the
top, bottom and side panels, and the openings for the shafts of the
two terminals and the line cord are formed intersecting the seam to
permit mounting the two terminals and line cord prior to securing
the box halves together.
4. A rechargeable battery pack as defined in claim 3 wherein the at
least one battery comprises two rechargeable lead acid batteries
connected in series and the front and rear panels of the case each
has a rib upstanding from the interior surface between the
sidewalls and spaced apart from the bottom wall by the height of
the batteries, the ribs holding and positioning the batteries
within the assembled case, and the front and rear panels of the
case each has a U-shaped flange upstanding from the interior
surface thereof, the U-shaped flanges holding and positioning the
transformer within the assembled case.
5. A rechargeable battery pack as defined in claim 4 wherein each
of the flexible spring blades of the secondary terminals has a free
position leaving an air gap between it and the corresponding
terminal until said terminal is depressed against its coil spring
into contact with the spring blade, whereby both terminals must be
depressed into contact with their associated flexible spring blades
in order to draw current from the batteries, thereby minimizing the
risk of shorting the batteries.
6. A rechargeable battery pack comprising a case having two
terminals extending therethrough for exterior access, said case
being rectangular and comprising front and rear panels, top and
bottom panels and side panels, the case being formed in two box
halves with the seam joining the box halves extending through the
top, bottom and side panels with openings for shafts of the two
terminals formed intersecting the seam, and said case having
mounted therein at least one rechargeable battery, an AC-DC
transformer for charging the battery and wiring connecting the
battery to the two terminals extending through the case for drawing
current and connecting the battery to the DC side of the
transformer for charging, the wiring including a line cord
extending from the AC side of the transformer through an opening
formed intersecting the seam of the case and terminating in a plug
connector for insertion into a standard wall outlet, whereby the
two terminals and line cord are mounted prior to securing the box
halves together.
7. A rechargeable battery pack as defined in claim 6 wherein the at
least one battery comprises two rechargeable lead acid batteries
connected in series and the front and rear panels of the case each
has a rib upstanding from the interior surface between the
sidewalls and spaced apart from the bottom wall by the height of
the batteries, the ribs holding and positioning the batteries
within the assembled case, and the front and rear panels of the
case each has a U-shaped flange upstanding from the interior
surface thereof, the U-shaped flanges holding and positioning the
transformer within the assembled case.
8. A rechargeable battery pack as defined in claim 7 wherein each
of the flexible spring blades of the secondary terminals has a free
position leaving an air gap between it and the corresponding
terminal until said terminal is depressed against its coil spring
into contact with the spring blade, whereby both terminals must be
depressed into contact with their associated flexible spring blades
in order to draw current from the batteries, thereby minimizing the
risk of shorting the batteries.
9. A rechargeable battery pack as defined in claim 2 wherein the at
least one rechargeable battery is of the lead acid type and wherein
each of the flexible spring blades of the secondary terminals has a
free position leaving an air gap between it and the corresponding
terminal until said terminal is depressed against its coil spring
into contact with the spring blade, whereby both terminals must be
depressed into contact with their associated flexible spring blades
in order to draw current from the battery, thereby minimizing the
risk of shorting the battery.
10. A battery pack comprising at least one lead acid battery
mounted in a case, two terminals extending through the case, each
of said two terminals having an enlarged head positioned outside
the case, a shaft extending through an opening in the case and an
enlarged foot positioned inside the case with a coil spring
deployed around the shaft between the outside of the case and the
terminal head, whereby the terminals are biased outwardly with
respect to the case, and two secondary terminals mounted in the
case and connected to the battery terminals, each secondary
terminal having a flexible spring blade extending to under the foot
of a corresponding one of the two terminals, wherein each of the
flexible spring blades of the secondary terminals has a free
position leaving an air gap between it and the corresponding
terminal until said terminal is depressed against its coil spring
into contact with the spring blade, whereby both terminals must be
depressed into contact with their associated flexible spring blades
in order to draw current from the batteries, thereby minimizing the
risk of shorting the batteries.
11. A battery pack as defined in claim 10 wherein the case is
formed in two parts with the seam at the joining of the parts, and
the openings for the shafts of the two terminals are formed
intersecting the seam to permit mounting the two terminals and line
cord prior to securing the case parts together.
12. The combination of a rechargeable battery pack and a hand
lantern or similar device adapted to receive alternately the
rechargeable battery pack or a standard lantern battery, wherein
the rechargeable battery pack comprises a rectangular case having
two terminals extending through the top thereof for exterior access
and having mounted therein at least one rechargeable battery, an
AC-DC transformer for charging the battery and wiring connecting
the battery to the two terminals extending through the case for
drawing current and connecting the battery to the DC side of the
transformer for charging, the wiring including a line cord
extending from the AC side of the transformer through the case and
terminating in a plug connector for insertion into a standard wall
outlet, the rectangular case having greater vertical height,
greater width and less depth than the standard lantern battery, and
the hand lantern comprising a lantern body for receiving either the
rechargeable battery pack or the standard lantern battery and a
lantern head removable from the lantern body and including contact
plates for contacting the terminals of either the rechargeable
battery pack or the standard lantern battery, the lantern body
having sidewalls and a bottom with two parallel cross-ribs
upstanding from the bottom and spaced apart by the depth of the
case of the rechargeable battery pack to receive and embrace the
lower end of the case of the rechargeable battery pack and to
support the bottom of the standard lantern battery on their upper
edges with the height of the cross-ribs corresponding to the
difference in height between the rechargeable battery pack and the
standard lantern battery, and with two parallel vertical ribs
extending inwardly from the lantern body sidewalls to receive and
embrace the vertical marginal edges of the front and rear panels of
the case of the rechargeable battery pack and bear against the
sidewall of the standard lantern battery, thereby accounting for
the difference in width between the rechargeable battery pack and
the standard lantern battery, and with additional vertical ribs for
bearing against other sides of the standard lantern battery.
13. The combination of a rechargeable battery pack and hand lantern
as defined in claim 11 wherein the vertical ribs receiving and
embracing the vertical marginal edges of the front and rear panels
of the case of the rechargeable battery pack each has an offset
vertical flange extending toward the other rib for engaging against
the side of the case of the rechargeable battery pack for
positioning it in the lantern body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a rechargeable pack and to the
combination of the rechargeable battery pack with a hand lantern or
similar device which also uses a conventional lantern battery.
Devices such as hand lanterns have been available for a long time.
Most of them have been designed to accept a zinc carbon lantern
battery, which is not rechargeable. Other batteries, such as
alkaline types, have come to the market, but are also not
rechargeable. The usefulness and the cost of using a hand lantern
are adversely affected by having to replace the lantern battery, a
relatively standard one of which has an average useful life of
approximately four hours.
Rechargeable lighting sources, such as flashlights, have also been
developed. In one such device, a rechargeable battery and the
charging mechanism are sealed in the flashlight case, and a pair of
blade contacts suitable for plugging into a standard wall outlet
extend from the flashlight case and are covered by a snap-on cover
during normal use of the flashlight. When the batteries become
discharged from use of the light, the cover is removed and the
entire flashlight unit is plugged into a wall outlet for
recharging.
Rechargeable hand lanterns have also appeared on the market. A hand
lantern is essentially a large flashlight employing a reflector of
approximately three or more inches in diameter and utilizing a case
larger than a standard flashlight case, the case ordinarily being
adapted to receive a six-volt "lantern battery". The six-volt
lantern battery is generally square in sectional shape, and has two
spring terminals extending from its top face for making contact
with the base of the bulb and the switch mechanism used in the hand
lantern.
A first rechargeable hand lantern employs a rechargeable battery
shaped similarly to a standard lantern battery, so that it fits in
a standard hand lantern body. However, in place of the spring
terminals found on the face of the standard lantern battery, the
rechargeable battery has wire leads with a plug type end connector,
and the hand lantern itself is provided with complementary plug
connector with wiring providing the requisite connections to the
bulb and switch mechanism. The battery is removed from the lantern
body for charging, charging being accomplished by a separate
charging transformer connected by a plug terminal to the battery
with the charging transformer itself being plugged into a wall
outlet. After the battery has been recharged, the plug connections
made for recharging are separated, the battery is replaced in the
lantern, and the plug connection with the lantern wiring is
re-established. A disadvantage in this system is the possibility of
loss or difficulty in locating the charging transformer and the
loss of use of the lantern during the recharging period unless
there is a second battery complete with the necessary plug
connector ready for use.
A second lantern has rechargeable lead acid batteries mounted in
the lantern housing together with a transformer and line cord for
connecting the charging transformer to a wall outlet. When the
batteries become discharged, the lantern is opened by removing the
head assembly (including the reflector, lens, bulb and bulb
receptacle) to gain access to the charging cord, which is plugged
into a wall outlet for recharging the batteries. A disadvantage of
this lantern is that it cannot be used for the period when the
batteries are being recharged.
Thus, there is need for a more convenient serviceable solution to
the problems of rechargeable batteries for hand lanterns or similar
devices.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A rechargeable battery pack according to the invention herein
comprises at least one rechargeable battery, and preferably two
rechargeable batteries of the lead acid type, and a transformer
connected for recharging the rechargeable battery, in a case having
external terminals for drawing current from the rechargeable
battery and a cord extending therefrom and terminating in a plug
for insertion into a standard wall outlet to draw charging current.
Wiring is provided connecting the terminals of the rechargeable
battery to the external terminals of the case of the rechargeable
battery pack and connecting the transformer to the terminals of the
rechargeable batteries for charging them, and the cord is also
connected to the transformer. The external terminals of the
rechargeable battery pack are spring loaded to make electrical
contact in devices such as hand lanterns in the same manner as a
standard lantern battery. The rechargeable battery pack is
generally rectangular in shape, and is narrower and longer than a
standard lantern battery. The invention further comprises a
combination of the rechargeable battery pack described above with a
hand lantern or similar device adapted to receive and operate with
either the rechargeable battery pack or with a standard lantern
battery, as desired, such as when the rechargeable battery pack is
removed for recharging.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention herein to
provide a rechargeable battery pack for hand lanterns and similar
devices.
It is an additional object of the invention herein to provide a
rechargeable battery pack which is self-contained.
It is a further object of the invention herein to provide the
combination of a rechargeable battery pack and a hand lantern
wherein the hand lantern may also be used with a standard lantern
battery.
Other and more specific objects and features of the invention
herein will in part be obvious and will in part appear from the
perusal of the following description of the preferred embodiment
taken together with the drawings.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery pack
according to the invention herein;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the interior of the rechargeable battery
pack of FIG. 1, prior to assembly of the case thereof;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rechargeable battery pack of
FIG. 1 and a hand lantern, disassembled, which accepts either the
rechargeable battery pack or a standard lantern battery, both of
which are shown;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lantern body showing the
rechargeable battery pack received therein, taken along the lines
4--4 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the lantern body showing the
rechargeable battery pack received therein, taken along the lines
5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lantern body showing the
standard lantern battery received therein, taken along the lines
4--4 of FIG. 5, and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the lantern body showing the standard
lantern battery received therein, taken along the lines 7--7 of
FIG. 6.
The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout
the various Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rechargeable battery pack 10
according to the invention is illustrated; and with reference to
FIGS. 3-7, the rechargeable battery pack 10 is shown used in
combination with a hand lantern 70, which may also utilize a
standard lantern battery. The rechargeable battery pack 10
generally comprises a case 20 having protruding terminals 40 and
45, batteries 50 and 55, a transformer 60, a line cord 65 and other
wiring as more fully described below.
The case 20 is generally rectangular in shape, comprising a front
panel 21 and parallel spaced apart rear panel 22, a top panel 23, a
bottom panel 24 and side panels 25 and 26, with the terminals 40
and 45 protruding from the top panel 23. The case is formed in two
"box halves" 20a and 20b, the box half 20a including the front
panel 21 and half of each of the top, bottom and side panels and
the box half 20b including the rear panel 22 and the other halves
of the top, bottom and side panels. The box halves 20a and 20b fit
together along a seam 27 where they are either sonic welded or
solvent welded together to form the complete case 20. The interior
components are mounted prior to final assembly.
With reference to FIG. 2, the rechargeable battery pack 10 is shown
with the box half 20a of the case 20 removed to expose the interior
components. The batteries 50 and 55 are preferably of the
rechargeable lead acid type and have a cylindrical shape sized the
same as a standard D cell battery. The battery 50 has a negative
terminal tab 51 and a positive terminal tab 52 and the battery 45
has a negative terminal tab 56 and a positive terminal tab 57, all
of the terminal tabs extending respectively from the top surfaces
of the batteries. The batteries may be purchased from Gates Energy
Products, Inc., Part Number 0810-0004 and are two-volt batteries
generating 2.4 ampere hours of current when charged. As best seen
with respect to the box half 20a, a horizontal rib 28 is provided
on the interior of the front panel 21 spaced apart from the bottom
wall 24 by the length of batteries 50 and 55, and a vertical rib 29
is provided upstanding from the front panel 21 and extending
between the bottom wall 24 and the rib 28. The second case half 20b
is provided with similar ribs upstanding from the rear panel 22,
wherein the batteries 50 and 55 are held in position within the
case 20 by the aforesaid ribs. A double-ended terminal clip 54
connects the positive terminal 52 of battery 50 with the negative
terminal 56 of battery 55, thereby electrically connecting the
batteries 50 and 55 in series.
The transformer 60 is an AC to DC transformer structurally
comprising a U-shaped frame 61 and a wound core 62 having taps from
the secondary side, as is well-known in the transformer art. A pair
of opposed U-shaped flanges 30 and 31 are provided on the interior
of the rear panel 22 of the case 20, and a corresponding pair of
opposed U-shaped flanges 32 and 33 are provided on the interior of
the front panel 21 of the case 20, the U-shaped flanges 30-33
embracing the frame 61 of the transformer 60 to hold the
transformer in the position shown in the assembled rechargeable
battery pack 10. The primary side of the transformer 60 is
connected to a two-conductor line cord 65 which exits the case 20
at an opening 34 formed in halves along the seam 27 on side panel
26, the cord 65 terminating in a plug 66 for insertion into a
standard wall outlet.
The terminal 40 (terminal 45 is the same) comprises a shaft 41, an
enlarged head 42 and an enlarged foot 43, i.e. the terminals 40 and
45 are generally in the shape of a dumbbell. The top panel 23 of
the case 20 defines circular openings 35 and 36 along the seam 27,
and the shafts of the terminals 40 and 45 extend through the
openings 35 and 36, respectively, with the heads 42 above the top
panel and the feet 43 below the top panel. The terminals 40 and 45
are mounted in the openings prior to sealing the case halves 20a
and 20b together. Coil springs 44 and 46 are deployed surrounding
the terminal shafts and extending between the top panel 23 and the
enlarged heads of the terminals 40 and 45 to bias the terminals
upwardly, with the feet of the terminals keeping the terminals
secured to the case 20. A pair of secondary terminals 37 and 38 are
respectively mounted to the rear panel 22 and have flexible spring
blades 47 and 48 extending outwardly to positions under the
terminals 40 and 45, as also seen in FIG. 4. When the terminals 40
and 45 are in their fully upwardly biased position, as terminal 40
is shown in FIG. 2, the flexible spring blades 47 and 48 are in
their free positions leaving an air gap between the feet of the
terminals 40, 45 and the flexible spring blades 47 and 48,
respectively. Thus, when the rechargeable battery pack is removed
from the device in which it is used, the terminals 40 and 45 are
not connected to the battery. This substantially reduces the chance
of shorting across the battery terminals, i.e. both terminals 40
and 45 must be depressed simultaneously against their coil springs
44 and 46 and into contact with the flexible spring blades 47 and
48 by a bridging conductive strip in order to short the batteries.
As is known, lead acid batteries can develop relatively high
current is shorted, and the foregoing structure minimizes that
possibility. When the rechargeable battery pack is in use, the
terminals are depressed, such as is shown with respect to terminal
45 in FIG. 2. The flexible spring blades 47 and 48 are in
self-biasing engagement against the feet of terminals 40 and 45
once the air gap has been closed. Of course, the flexible spring
terminals may be in constant self-biasing contact with the terminal
feet if other types of rechargeable batteries, such as
nickel-cadmium batteries, are used.
Wiring is provided to operatively connect the various elements
described above, and more particularly, a terminal clip 53 is
connected to the negative terminal 51 of battery 50 and wires 58
and 59, respectively, extend to the tap 63 of the transformer 60
and the secondary terminal 37. Similarly, a terminal clip 67 is
secured to the positive terminal 57 of the battery 55, and wires 68
and 69, respectively, connect the terminal clip with the
transformer 60 and the secondary terminal 38.
After the batteries, transformer, terminals, secondary terminals
and associated wiring have been assembled into the case half 20a,
the second case half 20b is fitted over the internal components and
the two case halves are secured together to form the case 20. The
case is fabricated of plastic, with the case halves being molded
and secured together by sonic or solvent welding or other
techniques familiar in the plastics industry. The plug 66 is
inserted into a standard wall outlet to charge the batteries 50 and
55 of the rechargeable battery pack 10, utilizing the
self-contained transformer 60. The charge is regulated by the
internal resistance of the batteries themselves, which increases as
the batteries approach a full charge. Once the batteries have been
fully charged, the plug 66 is removed from the wall outlet and the
rechargeable battery pack may be used by making electrical contact
across the terminals 40 and 45 through an electrical load, such as
the bulb in a hand lantern or similar device. Of course, the
rechargeable battery pack 10 may be charged and discharged numerous
times, and has a long period of usefulness.
The invention further comprises the combination of the rechargeable
battery pack 10 described above and a hand lantern 70 which accepts
either the rechargeable battery pack 10 or a standard lantern
battery 71, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-7. The hand lantern 70
generally comprises a lantern body 80 and a lantern head 90.
The lantern body 80 has a generally cylindrical sidewall 81 and a
bottom 82. A handle 84 is integrally molded with the cylindrical
sidewall and mounts a button switch 75 which makes or breaks
contact between two contact strips 76 and 77 which extend into the
interior of the lantern body from the sidewall 81. The top of the
cylindrical sidewall 81 is threaded at 83 to receive the lantern
head 90. The lantern head 90 comprises an annular cap 91 with a
threaded skirt 92 for attaching the lantern head to the lantern
body. A lens, not shown, extends across the front of the cap 91,
and a reflector 93 is inserted into the cap 91. At the apex of the
reflector is a bulb receptacle which mounts the bulb for the hand
lantern, and a conductor strip 94 is provided on the bottom of the
bulb receptacle and is in contact with the base of the bulb, and
parallel circular contact plates 95 and 96 extend radially
outwardly from the bulb receptacle. When the hand lantern 70 is
assembled, the central terminal 40 of the rechargeable battery pack
10 or the central spring terminal 72 of the lantern battery 71
makes contact with the contact strip 94 and hence with the base of
the bulb, and the other terminal of either the rechargeable battery
pack or the standard lantern battery makes contact with the
circular plate 95. The second circular contact plate 96 makes
contact with the side of the bulb through the bulb receptacle, and
the two contact plates are in contact with the contact strips 76
and 77 associated with switch 75, wherein the switch 75 when closed
completes the circuit through the bulb.
The lantern body 80 receives the power source for the hand lantern
70 which can be either the rechargeable battery pack 10 or the
standard lantern battery 71. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the
rechargeable battery pack 10 is shown mounted in the lantern body
80. In this regard, a pair of parallel horizontally disposed,
spaced apart cross ribs 78 and 79 are upstanding from the bottom 83
of the lantern body 80 and the lower end of the rechargeable
battery pack 10 is received between these ribs. A pair of vertical
parallel ribs 85 and 86 extend inwardly from the cylindrical
sidewall 81 of the lantern body 80, these ribs being integral with
the horizontal bottom cross ribs 78 and 79. The vertical ribs 85
and 86 flank the vertical marginal edges of the front and back
panels of the case 20 of the rechargeable battery pack 10. Two
vertical flanges 87 and 88 extend toward each other from the
vertical ribs 85 and 86, respectively, and these vertical flanges
are positioned adjacent the vertical marginal edges of the side 26
of the rechargeable battery pack 10. An additional vertical rib 99
butts against side 25, to space it from sidewall 81. Thus, the
rechargeable battery pack 10 may be inserted into the lantern
battery body 80 with its terminals 30 and 35 extending upwardly,
and the ribs 78, 79, 85, 86 and 99 together with the additional
vertical flanges 87 and 88 serve to position it within the lantern
body 80. The line cord 65 and plug 66 connected thereto may be
stored in the remaining space in the lantern body adjacent the case
20 of the rechargeable battery pack 10. The lantern head 90 may
then be screwed on to the lantern body 80 which causes contact to
be made between the terminals 30 and 35 of the rechargeable battery
pack 10, and the bulb base contact strip 94 and the circular
contact plate 95, respectively. The lantern is then ready to use
and is operable under control of the switch 75.
When the rechargeable battery pack 10 becomes discharged, it may be
removed for charging, and the standard lantern battery 71 may be
inserted into and used with the hand lantern 70 during the recharge
time. It will be noted that there are physical differences between
the rechargeable battery pack 10 and the lantern battery 71, namely
the lantern battery 71 has an essentially square cross section
(with rounded corners) and its overall width is less than the
rechargeable battery pack, but its depth is greater. The height of
lantern battery 71 is less than the height of the rechargeable
battery pack 10. Therefore, the ribs, which function as described
above to receive and hold rechargeable battery pack 10, function in
a different manner with respect to the lantern battery 71.
The lantern battery 71 is shown in the lantern body 80 in FIGS. 6
and 7. The horizontal bottom cross ribs 78 and 79, which flank the
case of the rechargeable battery pack 10, support the bottom of the
lantern battery 71 on their upper edges. This compensates for the
difference in height between the rechargeable battery pack 10 and
the lantern battery 71. The vertical ribs 85 and 86, which also
flanked the rechargeable battery pack 10, bear against the sidewall
of the lantern battery 71. Additional vertical ribs 97 and 98 also
bear against the sides of the lantern battery 71, whereby the
lantern battery is supported and positioned such that when the
lantern head 90 is screwed on to the lantern body 80, proper
contact is made between the central terminal 72 and the bulb base
contact strip 94, and the other terminal 73 and a contact plate 95.
Thus, the inconvenience of not being able to use the hand lantern
during recharging is avoided.
While the combination of the rechargeable battery pack and the hand
lantern which also accepts the lantern battery has been described
above in the context of the hand lantern, it will be appreciated
that this feature is also applicable to other devices which utilize
lantern batteries.
Accordingly, the preferred embodiment described admirably achieves
the objects of the invention herein, and it will be appreciated
that changes may be made from the preferred embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *